The Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Institute for Civic Education (UICE) promotes innovative methods of teaching and learning in history and social studies. The UICE investigates and tests new ways to apply and adapt approaches to history and social studies teacher training courses at EMU; and helps foster a new generation of informed and engaged citizens and innovative educators at the high school and college levels for the benefit of students in Michigan and beyond. The Institute grounds itself in producing citizens who have strong civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and capacities.
Our Director
Brigid Beaubien named director of the Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Institute for Civic Education
Our Mission
UICE empowers students and educators across the disciplines through high impact and innovative practices in history, social studies, and civics education in and beyond the classroom. UICE shares, models, and engages in strategies that promote deliberative dialogue, voice, ethical and evidence-based reasoning, empathy, knowledge building, and critical thinking. UICE produces and curates resources and provides professional learning and research to advance the knowledge, capacities, and dispositions for civic life.
Our Vision
UICE is committed to creating inclusive energetic spaces for the purpose of fostering empowered communities in sustaining democracy.
A Significant Gift
Department Head of History & Philosophy, Peter Higgins stated, “We could not be more excited to begin the Center’s work, or more grateful to Dr. Upshur."
Calling all EMU faculty and lecturers - We want to support you!
UICE Award Opportunity
Now accepting applications for the 2025/26 academic year!
Do you have an idea for a teaching strategy or curricular project that promotes active learning in civic education and citizen engagement?
We are excited to offer awards of up to $6,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year! All Eastern
Michigan University faculty, lecturers, and staff working directly with students are encouraged to apply.
Don’t miss this chance to innovate and transform civic education at EMU!
Application Deadline: March 14, 2025, by 11:59 PM
Award Notification: April 15, 2025
Fund Usage Period: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
News & Events
You're Invited!Join us for Michigan's Civic Learning Week - Tuesday, March 11, 2025
You're invited to attend a workshop and luncheon celebrating the 2024/2025 UICE award recipients!
After the celebration, join us for an inspiring presentation by Ellen Zwarensteyn from the Michigan Center for Civic Education. She'll share innovative strategies for integrating citizenship skills into your classrooms without increasing your workload. Don't miss this interactive workshop focused on empowering students to engage and lead.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Room 300 Halle Library
Luncheon - 11:30am
Workshop - 12:30pm-3:30pm
Constitution Day Celebration - September 17, 2024
On September 17th, the Upshur Institute for Civic Education hosted a luncheon celebrating recent award recipients followed by a workshop with Sphere Institute exploring strategies to build a culture and practice for facilitating meaningful and equitable conversations.
award recipients Mark Whitters (Lecturer; pictured right), Mary-Elizabeth Murphy (Faculty; bottom right), Alexis Braun Marks (Faculty), Matt Jones (Lecturer) and Zuzana Tomas (Faculty; bottom left) delivered remarks at the reception and were honored for their projects to prepare Eastern Michigan University students for the intellectual demands of democratic participation through critical inquiry and engagement in History and other Social Studies disciplines.
In their workshop titled, "Consitutional Conversations: Fostering Viewpoint-Diverse Civil Discourse in Your Classroom", John Snoad, Senior Manager and Scott Alford, Manager of Initiatives at Sphere Education Initiatives, led attendees in discovering and exploring strategies to build a culture and practice for facilitating meaningul and equitable conversations through viewpoint-diverse civil discourse.
Promoting Civil Discourse and Celebrating Constitution Week at EMU - September 19, 2024
UICE Director Brigid Beaubien and Southeast Michigan journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen HendersonSoutheast Michigan Journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson inspired thought-provoking conversation on the value of civil discourse and understanding diverse viewpoints during the Upshur Insitute for Civic Education's constitution week celebration on September 19th, 2024.
During their presentation in the Student Center Auditorium, Finley and Henderson emphasized the significance of civility in discussions, especially during elections years, as well as the importance of learning to listen to different perspectives.
New Award Recipients
The Upshur Institute for Civic Education at Eastern Michigan University has awarded funding to faculty and lecturers for projects to prepare Eastern Michigan University students for the intellectual demands of democratic participation through critical inquiry and engagement in History and other Social Studies disciplines.
Winners of the UICE Awards are:
Kristopher Phillips: "Founding an Eastern Michigan University Ethics Bowl Team."
Ann Blakeslee: "Engaging with Democracy through Writing."
Ashley Johnson Bavery: "Puerto Rico: Exploring the United States Democracy."
Read more about the awards.